Sliding panel traversing housing and supporting means



Jun& 27, D. D. HORTON T SLIDING PANEL TRAVERSING HOUSING AND SUPPORTING MEANS Filed Aug. 9, 1965 5 $heets-$heet 1 Dee .5. //0r 20/7 dew l flew/f2 INVENTORS ATTO/F/VEVJ June 27, 1967 D. o. HORTON ETAL. 3,327,428

SLIDING PANEL TRAVERSING HOUSING AND SUPPORTING MEANS Filed Aug. 9, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fl flee Z7. Hoffa/7 Lew 1 f/ew/zf INVENTORS v 5 BY M 1.4.; M W

ATTORNEY! June 27, 1967 D. D. HORTON ETAL 3,327,428

SLIDING PANEL TRAVERSING HOUSING AND SUPPORTING MEANS Filed Aug. 9, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet :3

BY W W ATTO/PNEVJ United States Patent SLIDING PANEL TRAVERSHNG HOUSING AND SUPPORTING MEANS Dee D. Horton and Lew V. Hewitt, Corpus Christi, Tern, assignors to Horton Automatics, Inc, Corpus Christi, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed Aug. 9, 1965, er. No. 478,225 9 Claims. (Cl. 49-177) This invention relates to a traversing housing and supporting means for a sliding panel. More particularly, this invention relates to track and operator housing and means for supporting a sliding panel thereon.

There has long been need for a sliding panel which is so mounted and supported that it may be easily opened without causing possible injury to persons standing nearby during the opening and closing operation. There have been many attempts as shown by the prior art to develop a successful traversing housing and supporting means for accomplishing this desired result with a minimum of parts and with assurance of successful and continuous operation over long periods of time despite repeated opening and closing of the sliding panel.

In addition, it is desirable to have a track supporting and operator housing means or members which are subject to a variety of installations such that uniformity can be introduced into the construction and the making of elements that have a variety of uses as will be explained hereinafter.

Briefly stated, this invention is for a traversing housing and supporting means for a sliding panel. It is generally comprised of an elongated angular support member generally L-shaped in cross-section, with one leg of the L held in a generally horizontal plane and having a longitudinal slot therein. The other leg of the support member is held in a generally vertical plane and has a forwardly extending flange. This flange has an upstanding portion forming a track and 21 depending portion for supporting sealing means for resilient engagement with the side of the panel.

There is attached to the sliding panel, support means, which support means generally extend upwardly therefrom. In addition, there is carriage means mounted on the track for longitudinal traverse thereon which carriage means are connected to the support means, whereby the sliding panel is supported for longitudinal traverse on the track.

Reference to the drawings will further explain the invention herein where like numerals refer to like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view partly in central section showing a sliding panel supported by the traversing housing and supporting means of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view in elevation of an alternate embodiment of the invention herein.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a horizontal cross-section through another embodiment of the invention.

3,327,428 Patented June 27, 1967 ice Referring now to FIG. 1, sliding panel 11 is generally rectangular in form and has attached thereto at either end upstanding support means in the form of hanger bars 12 which may be attached to panel 11 as by bolts, welding, or otherwise. Hanger bars 12 each have extending transversely therethrough near the upper ends thereof vertical slots 13 for receiving therethrough hanger bolts 14 which pass through and are supported by and connected to carriage means in the form of dollies, each dolly of which has a horizontal bar 15. Each of the bars 15 have attached thereto bearing wheels 16 by means of axle bolts 17. Wheels 16 are adapted to ride upon track 25 as will be explained hereinafter.

It will be noted that the upper end of each of the hanger bars 12 is provided with an adjusting screw 18 which extends vertically down through hanger bar 12 and into vertical slot 13. The lower end of adjusting screws 18 ride upon hanger bolts 14 to thereby support panel 11. In order to raise or lower panel 11 with respect to the support means, adjusting screws 18 may be turned up or down to adjust the height at which panel 11 is held. Reference to FIG. 2 will further explain the manner of supporting sliding panel 11 and the construction of the dolly means.

The housing and support means includes a generally L-shaped member in cross-section in the form of operator housing support and track member 20. Track member 20 is an elongated angular member generally L-shaped in cross-section as explained above with one leg of the member being held in a generally horizontal plane and having a longitudinal slot 21 therein, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter. The forward end of the horizontal leg of track member 20 has a depending flange 22 and the rearward end of the horizontal leg is provided with an extension 23 having a small longitudinal notch on the underside.

The depending leg of track member 20 is generally vertical and depends from the horizontal leg. The depending leg is provided with a forwardly extending flange 24 which has an upstanding portion forming track 25 and a depending portion 26 for supporting sealing means in the form of felt strip 27 which resiliently and slidably engages the side of sliding panel 11 as shown. Track 25 is provided with a nylon cap 28 on which wheels 16 ride during traversing of sliding panel 11.

The invention also includes housing means which in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 includes second and third elongated members each of which mateably engage opposite sides of track member 20 and form a housing thereabove which housing is generally rectangular in cross-section. Hence, one elongate-d member is in the form of generally C-shaped outside raceway member having a top portion 33, a vertical side portion 34 and a generally horizontal bottom portion 35. The inside edge of top portion 33 is provided with a depending flange 36. Bottom portion is provided with an upstanding flange 37 which mateably engages with the depending leg of track member 20 and may be attached thereto by locking means in the form of locking screws 38. The upper end of flange 37 fits into the recess on the underside of extension 23 and the forward end of bottom portion 35 abuts against the and outside portion 34 and bottom portion 35 forms a raceway for the receiving of electrical cables and air lines which may be connected to the operator means which will be explained hereinafter.

The other elongated member forming the housing in the present embodiment includes removable inside access member 41, the top end of which abuts against flange 36 and is demountably connected thereto as by means of screws 42.

The lower end of access member 41 is provided with an inwardly extending flange 43 which tends to seal off the carriage supporting means of this invention. Inter mediate the top and bottom sides of access member 41 there is provided an inwardly extending lug 44 which en- 7 gages flange 22 in locking relationship. Hence, upon removal of screws 42, access member 41 may be removed from the housing thereby providing ready access to the inside of the housing and to the support means for panel 11.

Referring now to FIG. 4, horizontal bar forming part of the carriage is provided with a vertically extending milled slot 48 in which is mounted hanger bar 12. This particular arrangement prevents horizontal movement of panel 11 relative to bar 15 and insures against wear and thereby provides a very secure support means. In addition, one of the dollies has attached thereto an upstanding member which passes upwardly through longitudinal slot 21 of track member 20, as, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This conveniently takes the form of operator arm 50 which is vertically aligned in milled slot 51 of one end of one of the horizontal bars 15 and held thereto as by means of bolts 17 and 49. It may thus be said that operator arm 50 is connected to sliding panel 11 through a horizontal bar 15.

As seen in FIG. 2, operator arm 50 is provided with an enlarged portion in the form of operator arm extension 52 which is attached thereto by bolts 53. Extension 52 has attached thereto one end of. operator piston rod 56, with the other end of piston rod 56 being attached to operator piston 57 which is enclosed in pneumatic operator housing 58. Each end of operator housing 58 is connected to an air line 59 whereby pressurized air may be supplied to opposite sides of operatorpiston 57 to move the piston back and forth inside operator housing 58.

It is to be understood that operator housing 58 and piston 57 are old in the art and may be operated by means which are well known in the art, as for example, the operator taught in U.S. Patent No. 3,149,536. Air lines 59 may be connected to an appropriate air pressure tank having a maintained pressure, whereby pressurized air may be passed through air lines 59 upon actuation of appropriate switch means. Such switch means could take the form of an electrical contact switch means under mats provided on either side of sliding panel 11, such that pressure on the mats would actuate switches to operate solenoids to thereby apply pressurized air through air lines 59 in the appropriate directions to move operator piston 57 either right or left as viewed in FIG. 1.

Since piston rod 56 is connected to arm extension 52,

which in turn is connected to operator arm 50, whichin turn is connected to panel 11 through horizontal bar 15, panel 11 may be moved or traversed on track 25 upon actuation of piston 57. Hence, the housing formed by track member 20, access member 41, top portion 33, side portion 34, and bottom portion 35 is generally rectangular in shape and provides a closed housing wherein the operator means is mounted which operator means is conveniently attached to track member 20. v

The arrangement of hanger bars 12 with respect to horizontal bar 15 is such that all side play is eliminated and adjusting screw 18 permits the desired panel height adjustment with a positive interlock. The fact that access member 41 is removable is unique in that it provides ready access to the inside of the housing without demounting sliding panel 11.

Track member is particularly unique because of its construction which permits ready adaptation to other uses or other assemblies as is also true with access member 41.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an alternate embodiment of the invention is shown which utilizes two track members 2t) and two access members 41 as will be explained hereinafter.

There it will be observed that there are two identical track members 20 held in back to back relationship and each of which are identical to track member 20, shown in FIGS. 1-4. In addition, there are two access members 41 which are identical to access member 41, shown in FIGS. 1-4. The upper edges of access members 41 are connected to a generally horizontal elongate top member 61 which completes the housing assembly.

Each of the track members 20 has a flange 24 which corresponds with flange 24 in FIGS. 1-4 having track 25 extending upwardly therefrom and depending portions 26 extending downwardly therefrom for supporting felt strips 27 thereon. Y

The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 has two sliding panels 11, each of which is supported on tracks 25 by wheels 16 in the same manner as in FIGS. 1-4. In addition, each of the sliding panels 11 is connected to an upright member in the form of operator arms 50 which pass through longitudinal slots 21 in track members 20. Operator arms-50 are likewise connected with operator arm extensions 52 which in turn are connected to piston rod 56 which are adapted for longitudinal reciprocation in the same manner as piston rod 56 in FIGS. 1-4, with the operation thereof being identical thereto.

In addition, there is supported between sliding panels 11, a fixed panel 60 which may be connected to and supported by the lower sides of track members 20 by any convenient means (not shown).

Hence, one sliding panel 11 may be adapted to move in one direction and the other sliding panel 11 adapted to move in another direction.

One unique feature concerning this embodiment is that track members 24) are identical and may be utilized in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4 or in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. This is particularly important because in the extrusion of metal or aluminum members of this type, it is desirable to have a minimum inventory of parts, the assembly of which will provide a number of different embodiments. The particular configuration of track members 20 is such that they may be readily adaptable to forming a housing supporting a single sliding panel as shown in FIGS. 1-4, or duel sliding panels, as shown in FIG. 5. This eliminates the necessity for carrying a large inventory of component parts for making the two different types of housings and supporting means. In addition, it is to be understood that the housing may also provide a means for attaching thereto a swinging panel (not shown) such as an anchorage for fixed or swinging panels. The elements thus described provide a system that enables greater versatility than has ever before been possible. The special engineering and design of the various elements give a self-contained support for carrying the weight of moving panels 11.

The particular design of access member 41 makes very simple the servicing of the automatic operating mechanism since it is exposed upon removal of access members 41.

In addition, track member 20 is unique in that it provides both a support for the operator mechanism and also constitutes the track for the wheels 16 of the carriages supporting panels 11.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a panel ll'which may be provided with a swinging door when it is desirable to have an emergency exit through a sliding panel.

In this instance, the sliding panel is shown having jamb sections 63 each of which have an internally extending flange 64 for supporting seal means in the form of felt strips 65 which engage one side of swinging door 66 in sealing relationship in the closed position. It is to be understood that door 66 is attached to one of the jambs 63 by appropriate hinge means in the form of spring hinge 67 which is adapted for normally placing door 66 in the closed position but which may be overcome by an appropriate force to cause door 66 to swing to the open position. This is particularly important in meeting certain building regulations which require that fixed or sliding panels have emergency exit doors therethrough.

The instant invention provides a track and operator housing and support means which forms into a compact unit, serves as a track supporting means for wheels on a moving panel, may also serve as an anchorage for fixed or swinging panels, and has a housing for containing the complete automatic mechanism and providing a raceway for electric and air lines.

It is also unique in that .the various members of the system enable greater versatility than has heretofore been possible. Individual panels may be made to slide automatically, or manually, or to swing, or to remain fixed in any desired combination.

The particular arrangement provides a great improvement over any known existing prior art for the reasons noted above.

Modifications may be made in the invention as particularly described without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is to be construed as illustratively only and is not to be construed as a limitation upon the invention as defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A traversing housing and supporting means for a sliding panel comprising:

an elongated angular support member generally L shaped in cross-section, with one leg of the L held in a generally horizontal plane and having a longitudinal slot therein, with the other leg held in a generally vertical plane and having a forwardly extending flange, the flange having an upstanding portion forming a track and a depending portion for supporting sealing means,

support means attached to the sliding panel and extending generally upwardly therefrom,

carriage means mounted for longitudinal traverse on the track and connected to the support means, whereby the sliding panel is supported for longitudinal traverse on the track,

an upstanding member connected to the sliding panel and extending upwardly through the longitudinal slot in the angular support member, and

operator means mounted on the angular support member and connected to the upstanding member, for causing longitudinal traverse of the sliding panel upon actuation.

2. The housing and support means claimed in claim 1 including:

closure means including second and third elongated members, each of which mateably engages opposite sides of the angular support member and form a housing thereabove, which housing is generally rectangular in cross section.

3. The housing and support means claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the support means includes two upstanding bars, each of which is attached to the sliding panel in longitudinally spaced apart relationship and each of which has a longitudinal slot extending through the upper end thereof, and

the carriage means includes at least two dollies, each of which is connected to one of the upstanding bars by bolt means passing through the longitudinal slot and each of which has tandem wheels adapted for longitudinal traversing on the track.

4. A traversing housing and supporting means for a sliding panel comprising:

an elongated angular support means generally L shaped in cross-section, with one leg of the L held in a generally horizontal plane and having a longitudinal slot therein, and with the other leg depending generally vertically therefrom and having a forwardly extending flange, the flange having an upstanding portion forming a track and a depending portion for supporting sealing means;

closure means including second and third elongated members, each of which mateably engages opposite sides of the angular support member and form a housing thereabove, which housing is generally rectangular in cross-section;

support means including a plurality of upstanding bar members, each of which is attached to the sliding panel in longitudinally spaced apart relationship and each of which has a longitudinal slot therethrough near the upper end thereof;

carriage means including plural dollies, each of which is connected to one of the upstanding members by bolt means passing through the longitudinal slots and each of which has tandem wheels adapted for longitudinal traverse on the track while supporting the sliding panel;

an upstanding member connected to the sliding panel and extending upwardly through the longitudinal slot in the angular support member; and

operator means mounted in the housing and connected to the upstanding member for causing longitudinal traverse of the sliding panel upon actuation.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

each of the dollies includes a horizontal bar member having a slot therein for receiving an upstanding bar member therein and including adjustment means mounted in the top end of each of the longitudinal slots in the upstanding bar members for adjusting the height at which the sliding panel is supported.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

the second elongated member is demountable for providing easy access to the interior of the housing, and

the third elongated member is generally channel shaped in cross-section and forms the top and one side of the housing.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 4 including:

a swinging door mounted on the sliding .panel for providing a passageway therethrough while the sliding panel is held in a fixed position.

8. The invention as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

the upstanding member is connected to the operator means at its upper end and to one of the dollies at its lower end.

9. A traversing housing and support means for a plurality of sliding panels, comprising:

a pair of elongated angular support members supported adjacent to each other in back-to-back relationship, each of said support members being generally L shaped in cross-section, with one leg of the L held in a generally horizontal plane and having a longitudinal slot therein, with the other leg depending generally vertically therefrom, with the depending legs of the support members being generally parallel and adjacent to each other, and each of the depending legs having forwardly extending flanges, each of the flanges having an upstanding portion forming a track and a depending portion for supporting sealing means for slidable engagement with the sliding panel,

closure means including removable second and third elongated members, each of which mateably engages one of the outside edges of the support members and forms a housing thereabove, which housing is generally rectangular in cross-section,

7 support means attached to each of the sliding panels References Cited and extending upwardly therefrom, UNITED STATES PATENTS carriage means mounted for longitudinal traverse on each of the tracks and connected to a support means, gs z 17 3 whereby at least one panel is supported on each 5 285O772 9/658 Adcock track, an upstanding member connected to each of the sliding FOREIGN PATENTS panels and extending upwardly through the longi- 237,558 2/1962 Australia. tudinal slot in one of the support members, and 293,035 12/1953 Switzerland.

operator means mounted in the housing and above the 10 383,206 10/1964 Switzerland.

support members and connected to the upstanding members, for causing longitudinal traverse of the DAVID WILLIAMOWSKY Prmary Examine sliding panels upon actuation thereof. KENNETH DOWNEY, Examiner. 

1. A TRAVERSING HOUSING AND SUPPORTING MEANS FOR A SLIDING PANEL COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED ANGULAR SUPPORT MEMBER GENERALLY L SHAPED IN CROSS-SECTION, WITH ONE LEG OF THE L HELD IN A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE AND HAVING A LONGITUDINAL SLOT THEREIN, WITH THE OTHER LEG HELD IN A GENERALLY VERTICAL PLANE AND HAVING A FORWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE, THE FLANGE HAVING AN UPSTANDING PORTION FORMING A TRACK AND A DEPENDING PORTION FOR SUPPORTING SEALING MEANS, SUPPORT MEANS ATTACHED TO THE SLIDING PANEL AND EXTENDING GENERALLY UPWARDLY THEREFROM, CARRIAGE MEANS MOUNTED FOR LONGITUDINALI TRAVERSE ON THE TRACK AND CONNECTED TO THE SUPPORT MEANS, WHEREBY THE SLIDING PANEL IS SUPPORTED FOR LONGITUDINAL TRAVERSE ON THE TRACK, AN UPSTANDING MEMBER CONNECTED TO THE SLIDING PANEL AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THROUGH THE LONGITUDINAL SLOT IN THE ANGULAR SUPPORT MEMBER, AND OPERATOR MEANS MOUNTED ON THE ANGULAR SUPPORT MEMBER AND CONNECTED TO THE UPSTANDING MEMBER, FOR CAUSING LONGITUDINAL TRAVERSE OF THE SLIDING PANEL UPON ACTUATION. 